||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 84 – The legend of Prahladha - 14

Lord Narasimha was highly pleased at the devotion of Prahlada, and announced his willingness to offer boons, “ Oh! Child, ask for any boon,  I am extremely pleased, whoever witnesses my form will not have any grief in their lives,”  Prahladha speaks “ Oh! Lord, do not heave me to the material world by giving boons,  I have worshiped you and practiced my mind to unite with you, not for any boons.  Hence I expect Mumukshvuthva who earns for liberation from worldly existence.  The characteristics of a true devotee of Lord is he must be Jijjyasu who is completely surrendered to supreme Lord, will not ask for the fulfillment of any worldly matters, he does not have any desire to fulfill other than union with the Supreme Lord.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the Universal preceptor, kindly guide us to attain liberation from worldly existence and enlighten us with the knowledge to attain Bhramam.  Oh! Akhila Guro, kindly elevate our soul to attain liberation from repeated births, If anyone asks for fulfillment of their desires won’t be a true devotee, he would be addressed as ‘Vanik’/merchant. Oh! Lord who is fulfilling the material matters of the worshiper instead of elevating his soul won’t be considered as supreme Lord.  Oh! Lord, you do not require anything other than sincere devotion from us, you do not require any support system, hence I do not desire anything from you; I am wholeheartedly surrendering myself to your lotus feet. Oh! Lord, my affection and devotion to you is not like the servant and King, you are my preceptor and I am your disciple.  Oh! Lord, you have shown your willingness to offer boon, kindly offer the boon to discourage me from if I have desired anything in my heart, Oh! Pundareekaksha, whoever worships you with no desire other than surrendering at your lotus feet, would succeed in their attempt to unite their soul with you.  Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Purusha who resides as a soul in living beings, Oh! Hari, Oh! Adbhuthasimha, Oh! Bhramane, Oh! Paramathmane, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you.” Lord Narasimha was extremely delighted to witness staunch devotion of Prahladha and said “ Oh! child, you are the fortunate one, your mind and intellect are completely surrendered to me, therefore you will have all those happiness available on this Earth. You can take pleasure in them as the fruit of your righteous deeds, and face the grief and sorrows in life with a balanced mind; with the constant practice, gradually you will succeed in that.  Ultimately you will be relieved from all the worldly bondage and attain me.”  Prahlada fell at the feet of Lord Narasimha and said “ Oh! Lord, my father had the fortune to feel the touch of you, therefore kindly elevate his soul from repeated births.” Lord Narasimha replied with great admiration “ Oh! Child, you are a blessed one, the child born like you would elevate the souls of 21/Thrisapthabhi ancestors of the clan.  My sincere devotees would purify even the impure ones.”  Lord Narasimha instructed Lord Bhrama not to offer unique boons like this to any of the worshipers in the future and disappeared.

Whoever listens or recites the legend of Prahladha who is the greatest devotee of Lord would attain Bhakti/devotion, Gnana/wisdom, and Vairagya/renunciation.  The worshiper would be guided through the path of Bhagavatha Dharma and ultimately attain the abode of Lord.

Maharishi Narada spoke to Dharmaputhra “ Oh! Rajan, you are fortunate ones, and equally ignorant too. You have not thoroughly understood Lord Krishna who has been assisting you as the son of your uncle Vasudeva, emissary, charioteer, and closest companion.  Oh! Rajan, you are unfortunate as well, you have not considered Lord Krishna as your preceptor.  Hence, consider Lord Krishna as your preceptor, he is supreme Lord who resides as the soul in living beings, he is sought after by the illustrious Rishis and Sages, it is the ultimate asylum which could provide Kaivalya, Nirvana and Sukhaanubhoothi/supreme bliss."

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 83 – The legend of Prahladha – 13

Prahlada concludes “Oh! Bhagavan, you are the superior cure for getting rid of the sorrows and grief of worldly existence, hence bless me to put into practice my mind at your sincere service.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the supreme bliss that can be understood by listening to your glorious myths sung by deities and Rishis, therefore kindly bless me to remain in the constant association of the intellectuals and Rishis who are surrendered at your lotus feet, thereby I could elevate my soul.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are supreme soul resides as the soul in living beings and illuminates the intellect and mind and preserves it while asleep, even the intellect and mind could not witness that supreme brilliance resides as soul but it can unite with it.  Oh! Bhagavan, you symbolize the highest philosophy  which cannot be understood effortlessly, it can be understood with the association of intellectuals and Rishis, and with the constant practice of meditation, it could provide stability of mind and would help to unite the soul with the supreme Bramham.  Oh! Bhagavan, my mind and intellect is under the constant influence of Maya/illusion, which makes me flee from you, even though, you all-pervading like the cluster of garland of numerous flowers, but the garland is made out of the same thread, an ignorant will not understand your all-pervading nature and keep taking several births, like a frog in the well.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me and do not keep me away from your lotus feet where I have taken shelter.  Oh! Bhagavan, I have not fallen in the deep well, I have fallen at your lotus feet and your supreme philosophies, kindly do not discard me.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the creator, preserver, and destroyer as well, kindly elevate my soul from the sensual pleasures which has fleeting nature.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to keep the vow of silence, recite your glories and endless myths, follow strict disciplines and meditation, thereby elevate my soul to realize the eternal presence of supreme Lord who resides as a soul, an ignorant cannot elevate his soul.  Oh! Bhagavan, you represent Vayu/vital air, Agni/Jaragni, Sky, ether/space, water, Prana, Indriyas/sense organs, mind, and intellect.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are all-pervading, kindly bless me to realize your presence in everything. Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to listen to your endless glories and myths, and surrender at your lotus feet, kindly bless me to worship you with various rites, in this way I can elevate my soul, and kindly bless me to attain intense devotion and faith achieved by the Paramahamasa/renounced souls."

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 82 – The legend of Prahladha – 12

Prahlada continued “ Oh! Bhagavan, the mind and intellect illuminate with your presence in our bodies, the mind creates the body consciousness during the awakened state, the mind and intellect return to that soul while the state of sleep, therefore the mind and intellect are protected and preserved by the supreme soul.  Oh! Bhagavan, your presence in the soul makes the sense organs to function, you are the absolute truth, it is not easily understandable for the intellect or mind due to the constant influence of Maya/illusion, even though the mind and intellect cannot witness that supreme soul, it can experience the presence of it and unite with it with the constant practice of meditation.  Oh! Bhagavan, You represent the highest philosophy, it is not easily understandable or experience because of its minuscule form.   It can be understood with the guidance of preceptor, saintly people, and in the constant association of intellectuals.  The realization of self can be achieved through the guidance of the preceptor, and sincerely following their teachings, which could bring stability of mind, it could achieve union with the Supreme Lord who resides as soul.  The knowledge of self would help the individual to consider the sorrow and happiness with the balanced state of mind and accept them as the Bhagavath Prasadha/offerings made to the supreme Lord.  Oh! Bhagavan, our mind, and intellect are completely soaked in Maya/illusion, therefore it keeps the mind drift away from the supreme Lord who resides as soul, the mind has immensely drawn towards physical and mental pleasures, worldly matters, and attachments to people with the hope that it could give eternal happiness, unfortunately, none of the above could provide eternal bliss.  Oh! Bhagavan, I shall take shelter on your lotus feet,  kindly do not leave me to live like a frog in the well, without the knowledge of Oneness in all,  which is simpler as the cluster of the garland of flowers constructed with the thread.  The individual who does not understand the absolute truth would keep taking several births, go through the endless miseries and sorrows of the worldly existence.   Oh! Bhagavan, You have endless manifestations and perform various pastimes for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings, I shall prostrate before you. Oh! Bhagavan,  you reside as a soul in living beings, like the smell of the scents cannot be seen, it can experience,  same as the state of sleep, pain,  love, sorrow, grief, happiness and all kinds of emotions.  The presence of the Supreme Lord as the soul can be understood with extreme penance and perfect control over senses.    A renounced soul who is united his/her mind and intellect with the supreme soul experiences your permanent presence in everything and remains in extreme bliss.   Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to realize the supreme Lord who resides soul in me.  Oh! Akhilaguru/Universal preceptor, whenever I forget your presence kindly remind me and elevates my soul from grief, sorrow, pain, and agonies.  The individual who does not unite his intellect and mind to the supreme soul remains a fool, carrying the burden of suffering, agonies, pain, and sorrows of life. Oh! Bhagavan, let your glorious manifestation as Lord Narasimha remove the extreme fears and anxieties in us. Oh! Bhagavan! I have no fear to witness your dreadful form with blazing fireballs like eyes, white manes all over the face, sharp protruding teeth and nails, and lolling tongue. I am scared of the wickedness, weakness, and ignorance of the mind which could heave the soul into the worldly existence.   The weakness of the mind causes attachment to worldly affairs, therefore I am scared of that mind which turns against you.  Oh! Bhagavan, therefore I shall surrender to your lotus feet, kindly remove my worldly bondage and bless my mind always contemplate upon you thereby unite with you.  Oh! Bhagavan, an ignorant mind keeps attachment which could give nothing but the grief of separation and hatred. The separation of beloved cause intense grief and heaves the soul to the fire of sorrow,  and thereby the cycle of birth and death continues in our lives, therefore kindly elevate our souls. "

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 81 – The legend of Prahladha – 11

All the deities assembled to witness the dreadful form of Lord Hari as half lion-half man, who is covered in a pool of blood, his sharp nails and fierce teeth were soaked in blood and meat, he is adorned in a garland of the intestine, the deities eulogized Lord Hari “Oh! Bhagavan, who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the Universe and its living beings, Oh! Nanda who is the source of happiness, Oh! Vichithrakarmane, who performs unique tasks to elevate the souls, Oh! Ananthashakthaye, who has endless prowess, you have killed the haughty demon, kindly be calm and accept our prayers. Lord Narasimha, kindly leave your brutal appearance and blesses us. We shall repeatedly prostrate before you.” In this way, Lord Indra, Lord Rudra, and deities were trying to pacify Lord Hari were terrified and moved backward.  None of the deities could bring back Lord Hari in his pleasing form.  Lord Bhrama approached Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi and asked her to calm down Lord Hari, but she was extremely frightened to appear before him.  

The five-year-old Prahladha who was utterly serene even after witnessing the entire dreadful scene, he was neither scared of Lord Narasimha nor grieved for his father, he had intense faith that his beloved Lord Hari appeared to protect him.   Lord Bhrama approached Prahladha and appealed “Oh! Child, you can only pacify Lord Hari.”  Prahlada with folded hands, with tears overflowing after witnessing the compassion of Lord,  fallen at the feet of Lord Narasimha, his tears washed the feet of Lord, gradually Lord Hari’s fierce form began to disappear.  Lord Hari blessed the child Prahlada, he embraced and took him on his lap.  Prahladha’s eyes were soaked in tears and eulogized with extreme devotion and faith to the Lord “ Oh! Lord Narasimha/Hari Ugrajathi, Lord Bhrama and deities, and Rishis eulogized your splendor to pacify you, but they could not calm down your rage, Oh Lord, I belong to the demon clan and a child, how did possible for me to calm you? It was all your mercy.  The number of penances, austerities, vows, richness, fame, prowess, would not help to elevate the soul or attain union with the Lord If the mind and the heart are not surrendered to the supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith.  If there are two kinds of people,  Vipra who do not have the knowledge of self or serenity of mind or not surrendered to the supreme Lord, and  a Chandala who is completely surrendered his mind and heart to supreme Lord would consider as intellectual.  I would prostrate at the feet of Chandala.   An individual who does not have the knowledge of the supreme self would not get purified himself or his clan.  The knowledge of self provides supreme bliss. Oh! Bhagavan,  who symbolizes all the auspiciousness, will not accept any of the offerings given with pride.   Whoever offers anything with humility, without pride or ego, or expectation or desires and whoever surrenders to supreme Lord and prepare themselves to receive grief or happiness with the serenity of mind would be considered as a true devotee.  Oh! Bhagavan, I have understood the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in the living beings, represent all the non-living things too, Oh! Bhagavan, you are omnipresent and capable to purify the intellect of the souls, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, kindly bless me to remain your sincere servant.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to cultivate intense devotion and faith on you, for that I should listen to your endless glories of you sung by the illustrious Rishis, Virinchi and deities, hence I should be in the constant association of ardent devotees who are completely surrendered at your lotus feet, so that I could elevate my soul and surrender at your lotus feet.” 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 80 – The legend of Prahladha – 10

The dreadful half-lion – half-man emerged out of the pillar with blazing fireballs like eyes’ was staring at Hiranyakashipu.  It has white mane all over the face gives the dreadful appearance, two sharp protruding teeth, and sword-like lolling tongue as if ready to swallow him, sharp fingernails were moving towards him. Lord Narasimha was violently shaking his head and producing ear-splitting noise.  That appalling form of Lord Narasimha jumped out of the pillar that created intense trepidation in Hiranyakashipu. All the people assembled were started to flee out of the palace.  Hiranyakashipu remembered the boon of Lord Brahma and re-gained confidence. He picked up mace to fight against the dreadful form of Lord Hari that was utterly failed, he picked up the sword but that too failed miserably.    Finally, the time has arrived, Hiranyakashipu was brutally knocked down on the floor by  Lord Hari and sat on top of him, like the eagle perforates the venomous serpent with its sharp nails, one elbow on the thigh and another on the chest pressed heavily, thus he put a complete pause for the movement of Hiranyakashipu.  Lord Hari took him on his lap and moved slowly to the wooden entrance, with the sharp nails tore off chest and stomach, it created a pool of blood, Lord Hari gobbled down the blood with both the hands, his internal organs were adorned as garland.   Lord Hari immersed in extreme bliss, produced deafening voices and took great taste in the flesh and blood of Hiranyakashipu.  Thus, Emperor Hiranyakashipu who confiscated the three worlds with his power, ruled the entire Kingdom with immense haughtiness  became lifeless on the lap of Lord Hari, none of the boons from Lord Bhrama could help him.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 79 – The legend of Prahladha – 9

The legend of Prahladha teaches that every human has the potential to create happiness within themselves, and share it with others too.  The state of bliss can be achieved with the constant practice of meditation.  The mind becomes free from selfishness, ego, pride, expectations, sorrow, grief, pain,  jealousy, etc.  The practice of meditation purifies the human mind and intellect.   Prahlada taught the children of the demons about the supreme knowledge of self, which could boost their confidence and courage.   The two preceptors Chanda and Amarka returned to the school,  saw all the children reciting and sung in praise of Lord Hari.  The preceptors angrily seized Prahladha and said: “You do not deserve to stay alive, you are a huge threat not only to the clan of demons but also to the children of demons and your father Hiranyakashipu.”  

The preceptors produced Prahladha before the assembly of the King.  Hiranyakashipu’s eyes were reddened with anger, he seized Prahladha from the preceptors and said “ Oh! Fool, you are an unfortunate one, you will destroy our clan, and how did you get this much courage to oppose your father? Who is protecting you? Who is influencing you to turn against me? I will cut you into pieces.” Hiranyaksha took the sword to chop the head of Prahlada who was serene, with folded hands began to speak “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme soul in the minuscule form resides in us and deities as well, Oh! Father, that gives you the strength to speak loudly, it is neither your skill nor the power of the muscle.  He is Ishwara who is behind all the functioning of the body and intellect.  He protects the mind and intellect while the state of sleep and it brings back while the awakened state, all those functions of the body takes place with his presence.  Oh! Father, you should not mistreat the all-pervading supreme soul, kindly leave your adamant and demonic nature, and surrender yourself to that supreme Lord who is extremely compassionate, he is capable to forgive all the sins of the worshiper.  Oh! Father, the Supreme Lord resides as a soul in all the living beings,  it is impossible to attain Him without surrendering to him,  otherwise, you cannot achieve serenity or peace of mind,  or cannot understand the Oneness of the soul.  Kindly contemplate upon the supreme Lord Hari, he will not discard anyone.”  Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate any of the advice of Prahladha, he was in extreme rage, could not control his mind listening in praise of Lord Hari.  He shrieked in extreme anger “ Oh! Fool, how dare you praise Lord Hari, who gave you the strength to praise him? How did you find this much courage to praise him? Who’s that Bhagavan protecting you always?  I will see who is going to protect you while I slice your head.  Let me see that supreme Lord who resides as soul and omnipresent.”  Hiranyakashipu moved forward to slice down Prahlada, put a pause to his action and thought  "Prahlada should understand that there is no Lord exists, other than me in this world.  I have to prove to him that I am the only Lord who is protecting and ruling the entire world.  Let me prove him first and kill.”  Hiranyakashipu changed the sword from left hand to right, he forcefully banged the pillar with his fist,  and roared “ Oh! Fool, prove as you are preaching, if your Lord is all-pervading, he must be in  living and non-living things too, therefore show me the presence of your Lord in this pillar.”  when Hiranyakashipu forcefully banged the pillar with his fist, a deafening voice rose from the eight directions as if the Earth was quivering.  Hiranyakashipu was taken aback; he could not realize what’s happening before him.  He was alarmed to see a dreadful form of half lion – half man rose from the pillar; it was to prove the perception of Hiranyakashipu is wrong,  it was to protect Lord Bhrama’s boons and protect his ardent devotee Prahladha from the danger and ultimately to prove the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord.  

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 78 – The legend of Prahladha – 8

Prahlada spoke “ Oh! Children, My father went for an extreme penance in Mount Mandharachal, he undertook Tapasya for several months.  Lord Indra was concerned about the Tapasya of my father Hiranyakashipu.  During this period my mother Kayadhu was pregnant with a child.   Lord Indra defeated the demons and abducted my mother to kill the child in her womb. Fortunately, Lord Indra was intervened by Maharishi Narada, he insisted Lord Indra to leave the idea of killing a child in mother’s womb. Maharishi Narada said “ Oh! Mahabhaga, the child in Kayadhu’s womb is not cruel or wicked like Hiranyakashipu, he is going to be one of the greatest devotees of supreme Lord; therefore it is impossible to kill him.  He has attained supreme grace of Lord.” Lord Indra released the clutches on Kayadhu, he reverentially circumambulated her and left.  Maharishi Narada took my mother in his hermitage and gave shelter until my father finishes his Tapasya.  While my father was undertaking extreme penance, my mother served the ascetics living in the hermitage of Maharishi Narada who taught the highest of the knowledge of Paravidhya/knowledge of Bhramam and Aparavidhya/body which is perishable.  My mother could not recollect any of these highest of knowledge, with the grace of Maharishi Narada I could remember all those teachings while I was in her womb and preserved in my mind with the constant practice. Oh! Children listen to me carefully, it will purify your intellect, and the body has to undergo six types of transformations but the soul remains untouched, it has no death.  Therefore if you want to attain the permanent bliss you have to focus on the eternal soul not to the body which has perishable nature.  The supreme knowledge is like the Goldmine where the experts separate the gold from other metals, you should learn to focus your mind in the soul resides in your body, that will lead to ultimate Bramham, Athmavith focuses the mind on the supreme soul.  The body is made of five essential elements, mind, intellect, Ahamkara, sixteen senses/six from the body and six from the mind, Prana has two senses hunger and thirst, the intellect has to undergo doubt, forgetfulness, sorrow, happiness,/ the mind, body, intellect, and soul is interconnected by the supreme Lord in the form of Prana.  As long as the Prana/soul resides in the body, rest of the sixteen senses will function, otherwise, it will be declared as a corpse, in this way, you can elevate your mind to the supreme Lord who resides as soul in living beings.  There are thousands of methods to cultivate devotion and elevate your soul; in this Kali Yuga devotion is the easiest method to approach the Supreme Lord.  Oh! Children, devotion can be achieved by self-less service to  the preceptor, listening to their teachings and sincerely following them, listening to the glorious myths of Lord, Namasmaran/recitation of sacred names of Lord, contemplation upon the marvelous form of Lord Hari who resides as a soul in living beings, association with saintly people, and worship of supreme Lord,  in this way, detach your mind from all the worldly matters and concentrate on supreme Lord Vasudeva, it will create firm devotion  and immerses the mind in supreme bliss.  If you start remembering Lord Narayana on every breath, you can unite with the supreme Lord and if you cultivate firm devotion and unite your mind with the supreme soul, with the firm devotion all those impurities in the mind will burn and this will bring the serenity of mind.  Therefore, Deities, demons, Asura, Gandharva, Yaksha, Kinnara, and humans contemplate upon the lotus feet of supreme Lord Mukunda to attain the serenity of mind.  Anyone can meditate upon supreme Lord, it is possible not only for Dhvija/Brahmin, deities, Rishis, there are no specific qualifications required or need not be a scholar, every ordinary human being can contemplate upon Supreme Lord.  There is no need for charity, Tapasya, fasting, and disciplines, all that required is intense devotion and complete surrender upon the lotus feet of  Supreme Lord,  any charitable deed performed without the devotion is considered as ignorance.  Oh! Children, cultivate intense devotion to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in you.  It will provide the sense of ‘Oneness in All’, there is no restriction or qualification required, even the Yaksha, and Rakshasa, or Shudras, Sthree, or people who have committed grave sins, can contemplate upon the supreme Lord Achyutha, devotion is considered as highest kind of piousness in everyone’s life.  Oh! Children, therefore meditate upon the supreme Lord Govinda and make your life fruitful.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 77 – The legend of Prahladha – 7

One day the preceptors were out for the work, Prahlada found it is a great opportunity to spread the knowledge of self to his friends.   The knowledge for self-confidence and courage to face any adverse situation with intense faith and devotion.  Prahlada speaks to the children of demons “ Oh! Children, It is difficult to attain the body of a human, a soul takes several births and with the piousness attained, it has achieved the body of a human.  Therefore it is the prime duty of the individuals to follow the Bhagavatha Dharma/righteousness from the age of childhood.  ‘Time’ plays important role in every human life, none of us can get hold of the intellect, beauty, skill, etc.. it has to perish with the time, hence it is important to practice righteousness from the early days of childhood and completely surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu who resides as soul in all the living beings.  He is Ishwara who is Sarvabhoothanam Ishwara:, he is the closest companion of the individuals.  Oh! Children, happiness is the state of mind that wedges with the pleasing experience of sense, but it is fleeting, the mind cannot stick on with the sense organs for a long time, therefore it releases its clutches from the sense organ after sometimes due to boredom.  The human mind will not stick on to a particular object or people or viewpoints for a long time.  The mind always searches for diverse matters to consume.  The ignorant people keep waits for the happiness performing the usual tasks, in this way they spend whole life span or wait until the damage of senses with unfulfilling desires.  Oh! Children, if you want to attain permanent bliss, contemplates upon the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda who symbolizes eternal bliss.  The human body cannot protect you from fear or anxieties, it undergoes constant transformation and destruction.  The body has to undergo aging, illnesses, and death if the mind clings on to the body, it would bring extreme fears and afflictions.  The half of the life goes waste without any fruitful task during childhood and adulthood, spends many nights in sleep and days in material affairs,  in this way we push our body and mind into darkness of ignorance, eventually death.    The aging and illnesses attack the body, by the time half of the life must have spent with the worldly matters.  Therefore the intellectuals isolate their mind from worldly affairs and bondage and contemplate upon the supreme Lord, eventually, the mind will get detached from worldly affairs.  The people who have completely indulged in taking pleasure in worldly affairs would spend their life in the remembrances of home, father, mother, wife, children, friends, brother, sister, relatives, wealth, and money, ultimately they descend from the supreme bliss.  The mind has the ability to descend to worldly matters and ascend to the supreme Lord as well.  Oh! Children, if you feed your mind with pleasures and comfort, once the body undergoes aging and illnesses, at that moment the mind will get extremely disturbed.  It becomes impossible for the mind to get unfasten from sensual pleasures.   The human mind is like an animal that takes extreme pleasures in the senses instead of getting disconnected from sensual pleasures.  Oh! Children, leave interest in all the worldly matters, and bondage and turn your mind to supreme Lord Narayana, eventually, the mind will be free from all those worldly matters.  Oh! Children, it is not so difficult to please supreme Lord who is all-pervading, represents living and non-living things, and resides as a soul in living beings.  Therefore surrender yourself to the lotus feet of  Supreme Lord, show kindness to others to elevate their souls to the supreme Lord, if the supreme Lord gets pleased you will attain all those desired in abundance.  The truth is the Dharma Arththa and the Kama alone will not elevate the soul to the supreme Lord, the scriptures confirm that elevation of the soul is possible only with the complete surrendering to the supreme Lord.  Oh! children, I am fortunate one, have gained this supreme Knowledge from Maharishi Narada while I was in my mother’s womb.   Listen to me, my preceptor Maharishi Narada taught me the Bhagavatha Dharma,/Vasudevasya Mahima/glories of supreme Lord Vasudeva, which is Gnana Vignana Samhitha/which describes the supreme knowledge and the ways to attain the supreme Lord.  It helped to elevate my soul with the constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord.”  The children of the Gurukula were astounded and requested  Prahlada to describe when did he learn the supreme knowledge from Maharishi Narada. 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 76 – The legend of Prahladha – 6

Prahlada spoke “ Oh! Preceptor, my mind and intellect is yearning to unite with the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in all of us, like a magnet; therefore I could not see anything other than him.”  The preceptors were really angry at the child Prahlada who was praising the splendor of Lord Hari.   Hiranyakashipu was furious at the preceptors.  King ordered the preceptors to take back Prahladha and teach to eulogize him.  The preceptors took Prahladha to the school and they tried all means of physical abuse and taught him to praise his father.  But Prahlada was unyielding for any of their threats or abuses.  He was taught Thrivarga about the Purusharththa/lessons on Dharma, Artha, Kama which could elevate the soul to the final state of liberation from repeated births.   He was less taught the practice of the final state of liberation from the worldly existence.   But Prahlada was steadfast, he did not worried about it, because he has already attained the supreme knowledge of Bhramam while he was in mother’s womb.  

The human body endures with the essential elements of Bauthika Loka/Prakrithi, the supreme soul could outlive only with the spiritual advancement, and therefore it is necessary to have worldly pleasures as well as spiritual knowledge to elevate the soul.  The preceptors were quite satisfied with their way of teachings to Prahlada.  Once again, he was brought to the assembly of the King, he was accompanied by his preceptors, and the questions were repeated.  Prahlada looked at his father's eye and said “ Oh! Father, The most favorite lessons I have learned are Shravanam, Keerthanam, Smaranam, Padhasevanam, Archanam, Vandhanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam and Athmanivedhanam, are nine types of devotion to worship supreme Lord Hari.”  Hiranyakashipu felt humiliated, showered all his anger upon the little child Prahladha calling him ‘enemy of his clan’ and threw him from the lap.  Hiranyakashipu blamed the preceptors for all the troubles; they forced the child to tell the truth where he had learned praising Lord Hari.  Prahlada said “ Oh! Ignorant one, you are not going to learn the absolute truth, you will remain the cows/ruminants that keep re- chewing the food consumed.  If you want to bring something new in your life, approach saintly men and soak in the dust from their feet, be in the association with them.  Otherwise, you cannot elevate your soul from the worldly matters.”  Hiranyakashipu was in a rage, ordered the preceptor to leave the Palace, made up his mind to teach a harsh lesson to Prahlada.  Hiranyakashipu thought if Prahladha stays alive, he will become a threat to him; he will destroy the entire clan.   Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahladha, called for his men and fastened him with a rope; he compelled his wife to poison the child when Prahladha was asked his mother about the unique color of food, mother consoled him that it is the offerings made to Lord Hari, the poison did not hurt Prahlada.  Hiranyakashipu was mystified, he ordered his men to take Prahladha high in the mountain and hurl down, Alas! he was miraculously escaped.  Prahlada was thrown into the cluster of serpents, but he did not get hurt.   He was tossed to the blazing fire, it did not hurt him.   He was thrown to the ocean, but he did not get hurt and safely returned back on the shore.  Hiranyakashipu understood after several attempts of punishment of death, Prahlada is safe, therefore someone is protecting him.  Hiranyakashipu pulled his sword to cut Prahladha into pieces, was stopped by his preceptors who requested the King to give them a final chance to change the belief of Prahlada.  Thus, Prahlada returned to the Gurukul for the third time. 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 75 – The legend of Prahladha – 5

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Prahladha was born as the fourth child of Hiranyakshipu, the others were Hladha, Samhladha, and Anuhladha.  Prahlada was innocent, honest, and virtuous; he had good control over senses and knowledge of self.  He respected preceptor and saintly men; he had supreme knowledge of Bhramam which is eternal, pure, unchangeable and absolute truth, resides as a soul in living beings.   He considered the supreme Lord as his constant companion.  He was humble, kind, and caring to everyone like a father to his children.  His mind was unwavering; he neither sticks to grief nor happiness.   He had thorough knowledge that all that seeing and happening are fleeting and not permanent.   He contemplated supreme knowledge of the Lord who resides as soul in deities and Asuras as well.  He had immense love and faith upon the supreme Lord by birth, so that he could be able to live in supreme bliss always, with the constant remembrance of Lord; he had immense courage and felt protected by supreme Lord.   He was constantly united in his mind with intense love and devotion to Lord Govinda who illuminates the senses.   He continuously contemplated the supreme soul which has no birth or death; hence he was in a state of ecstasy.  Hiranyakashipu was anxious about the little child Prahladha who was in a state of supreme bliss always, as if untouched by grief or sorrow, he engages meditation for hours and hours contemplating Supreme Lord Hari, he forgets the surroundings and sing and dance contemplating upon Lord Hari.  The King sends for physicians of the palace to check on the health of Prahlada.  They informed Hiryankashipu that his son is perfectly alright, he is constantly contemplating upon Lord Hari who is the enemy of him and keeping himself blissful always.  This news multiplied the worries of Hiranyakshipu, he decided to send Prahaladha to learn under the guidance of a preceptor, an institution was built for the purpose and found preceptors for Prahlada.  Chanda and Amarka two sons of Shukracharya were appointed as the preceptor of Prahladha and a large number of children of demons were admitted to the school.  Prahlada was taught to worship Hiranyakashipu who is the Emperor of the Kingdom; his name should be recited in place of Lord Hari, he is the protector of the Kingdom and his subjects etc.  The little Prahladha showed the least interest in all those teachings and nothing was kept in his mind, as if he was not heard anything other than the name of Lord Hari.

The years passed, once Prahaldha was brought to the assembly of Hiranyakashipu, his father affectionately carried the child on his lap, and enquired about his studies in the school and asked “Oh! Child, what did you learn in the school? Which one of the teaching did you like the most?” Prahaldha looked at father’s eyes, he closed his eyes and said “ Oh! Father, I have heard the most marvelous teachings about the splendor supreme Lord Hari resides who resides as a soul in living beings, therefore contemplate upon him and elevate your soul.   The attachment to body which undergoes constant transformation and destruction could bring unhappiness, extreme pain, anxieties, sorrows, and grief.  Oh! Father, therefore takes shelter at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Hari, conducts your journey to woods and contemplates upon him in the serenity of woods.  Oh! Father, Sravanam/listening to his glories, Keerthanam/praising his glories, Smaranam/remembrance of his glories, Mananam/contemplation, Padhasevanam/worship of Lord as Master, Archana/veneration of Lord, Dasyam/service to him and his devotees, Sankhyam/consider him as your companion, Athmanivedhanam/complete surrender, accept any of the methods of worship of Lord Hari, you will find supreme bliss. ”  Hiranyakashipu abruptly rose from the throne in a wave of extreme anger and enquired the preceptor who taught him about the excellence of Lord Hari.  He laughed sarcastically and said “ Oh! Fool, what you have learned from your teacher is utter foolishness.”  He called for the preceptor and questioned the reason for Prahladha’s devotion to Lord Hari, they were troubled and fondly called Prahlada.  “Oh! Vathsa, do not lie, tell us the truth who taught you about Lord Hari?  We did not teach you anything about him.”  Prahlada replied “ Oh! Preceptor, you are an ignorant one, you have no knowledge of all-pervading supreme soul, you have not understood the oneness-in – All, I shall prostrate before that supreme Lord who has minuscule form as well.  You did not realize the supreme Lord, who resides as a soul in all the living beings.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 74 – The legend of Prahladha – 4

The legend of Prahladha shed light on the ignorance and death of Hiranyakashipu, the excellence of five-year-old Prahlada.  The characteristics of Prahlada symbolizes intelligence, enthusiasm, courage, humility, happiness, brightness, devotion, and knowledge, clarity of mind, contentment, and faith.  The human mind and intellect are mysterious, it is a marvelous instrument that can shrink due to jealousy, pride, ego, anger, selfishness, and wickedness.   It can also expand with supreme knowledge and the knowledge of oneness in All.   It can spread happiness, selfless love, care, humility, etc.  The character of Hiranyakashipu represents utter ignorance which could provide only sorrow, grief, jealousy, pride, ego, anger,  and pain.  It could augment crimes, brutal murder, massacre, and burglary.   The root cause of the entire problem is the restlessness of mind/ignorance due to insecurity, dependency, doubtfulness due to lack of knowledge, lack of potency, inabilities, fear of illnesses and aging.  An agitated mind cannot bring peace or serenity of mind.  The knowledge of self could remove ignorance, doubtfulness, restlessness, insecurities, fear, and anxieties.  Hiranyakashipu ordered his men to create an obstacle for all the religious and spiritual rites in his Kingdom.  He wanted to tear off the chest of Lord Hari who manifested as wild boar and killed his brother Hiranyaksha.  He pacified his mother with supreme knowledge and elevated her soul from extreme grief of the loss of her son.

Hiranyakshipu decided to conduct an extreme penance in Mandharachala to become immortal and win over his enemies.  He undertook severe penance standing on the fingertip of the leg, fixing the gaze on the sky, both the hands folded above the head.  The deities experienced utter heat witnessing the penance of Hiranyakashipu with the destructive thought.  The deities assembled in Sathyaloka and appealed to Lord Bhrama that they could not live peacefully with the extreme heat of the penance of Hiranyakashipu.  Lord Bhrama mounted on his celestial vehicle was accompanied by Sapatharishis and arrived in Mandharachala.   They could not witness Hiranyakashipu whose body was fully covered in the anthill, his body was deteriorated, his flesh was consumed by the ants inside the mud, Hiranyakashipu was not conscious of his body.  The Rishis removed Hiranyakashipu's skeleton-like body out of the anthill.   Lord Bhrama spoke “Oh! Wake up! Wake Up! Be all the auspiciousness with you,  I am pleased with your devotion, ask for a boon.” Lord Bhrama sprinkled water on him from his Kamandalu/vessel, Hiranyakashipu instantly retrieved all those powers, health, enthusiasm and energy of him.  He reverentially prostrated before Lord Bhrama and said “ Oh! Lord, you are the creator of Kalpa, and preserve it, ultimately destroy it. You are omnipresent, I shall prostrate on your lotus feet.  You are Adibeeja/prime seed, you represent intellect and knowledge, you are witnessing the deeds of Prana, senses/Indriya, intellect, and mind.  Oh! Anantha,  I shall prostrate before all-pervading Bhagavan, Oh! Prabho, I shall prostrate before your compassion, Oh! Lord, you have instructed me to ask for a boon, kindly bless me not  to have fear from any of your creation,  I should not face death inside or outside, I should not face death with any of the weapons, I should not face death during day or night, I should not face death from Earth or Sky, I should not face death from humans, or animals or deities or demons, I should not face death from living or non-living things, I should not have enemies.  I need not bow before any ascetics to get splendor, kindly bless me with the above boons.”  Thus, Hiranyakashipu attained unique and numerous boons from Lord Bhrama.  Later, with the boons he took control of the entire Earth and abode of deities, he created extreme trepidation among the living beings and deities as well.  He cultivated immense enmity towards Lord Hari who killed his brother Hiranyaksha.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 73 – The legend of Prahladha – 3

Maharishi Narada continued “ Oh! Yudhishtir, listen to me, Hiranyakashipu was extremely raged when he heard the death of his brother Hiranyaksha by a wild boar, his eyes were reddened,  crushed his teeth and looked at the sky and said “ Oh! Demons, I will not spare that Lord Vishnu who killed my brother Hiranyaksha, everyone thinks that he is impartial, but he was impartial to us always.  He has refused to be in his selfless nature, he has shown favor to Indra, and hatred towards us.  I will kill him with my spear and perform the rite with his blood.  If the root of the tree is destroyed, the whole tree gets ruined, therefore, I am going to kill Lord Vishnu who is Kootastha/root to destroy the powers of the deities.  It is my order to destroy the hermitages of saints and holy men, kill the twice-born, kill the people who follow Varnnashrama, recite Vedas, follow Vedic way of living.  In this way, we can infuriate Lord Vishnu and bring him out of his abode, and then I can kill him at ease.”  

The warriors of Hiranyakashipu harassed the righteous people on the Earth, they have put an end to all the religious and spiritual rites.   Hiranyakashipu went back to the Palace and saw his mother, children, wife are mourning at the death of Hiranyaksha.  He pacified them, placed his mother’s head on his lap and said “Oh! Mother,  it is the braveness of a Kshatriya to attain death while battling with enemies.  The death cannot be avoided, no one can rewrite it, and it happens at the right time.  The time creates preserves, protects and destroys the soul.  The soul/Athma/ is eternal, pure, free from changes, it assumes different bodies by taking various births.  The soul is interconnected with Maya/illusion/mind and assumes different appearances in various births; the mind has the power of a magnet either to stay connected with the Paramathma or with the worldly matters.   It is like the reflection of the trees positioned on the river banks gives out the constant movement of the tree in the water, even though the tree is firm.  It is like when we keep rotating the head vigorously for a while, it gives the feeling that all the objects are moving around, even after we stand firm for a while.  The soul is void of any of the transformation; therefore we should stay connected with our intellect to the supreme soul.  Oh! Mother, the ignorant people keep attachment on material things and people, in this way we are restricting our mind and intellect which has the power to elevate us from worldly pleasures.  The intellectuals consider oneness in all; it could provide humility, humbleness, and generosity.   The ignorant people soak in utter grief of separation, pain, and agony.  Oh! Mother, I shall narrate a legend of King Suyagna in the city of Ushi who was killed on the battlefield.  He was brutally wounded, the corpse was brought to the palace; his wives were holding his legs and cried loudly.  They hit on their chest vehemently and wept bitterly, saying “Oh! Rajan, we are hopeless.  We have no one in the world to depend on, it is meaningless to live.” At that moment, a child entered the palace, that was Lord Yama disguised in the form of a child and advised them “ Oh! Women, you are several years elder to me, you have enough experience living on this Earth.  Why are you behaving like an ignorant, all these are impermanent in this Universe.  Why are you grieving over the soul which is not going to return?  I am a fortunate one, I do not know about my parents, I am all alone in the woods, and I am fearless about the wild animals in the woods.  I am confident that I am well protected by the Supreme Lord who protected me while I was in mother’s womb.  This universe is created, protected, preserved, by the Supreme Lord; he has numerous manifestations and performs various passionate sports in this Universe.  Oh! Women, why did we attain the human body which undergoes constant changes? Do you know how the food fire, bubbles in the water and sand dunes all that appears? You cannot see or touch the mind/intellect of Suyagna, it works with all those vital elements to speak with you, and you have seen his physical appearance only.   Therefore contemplate upon the supreme Lord who resides as soul and elevates your soul from worldly bondage which causes grief and pain.  Oh! Women, you have seen the physical appearance of Suyagna but not his mind or Athma which is eternal, do not waste your time mourning for him and concentrate on the Supreme Lord.  I shall describe the story of Cuckoos nested in the woods.  One day the female Cuckoo was shot by a hunter, was seen the male Cuckoo wept bitterly at the separation of her.  The male Cuckoo was worried about its children who were well taken care of by its mother.  At that moment, the hunter shot the male Cuckoo also.  Oh! Women, therefore do not be a fool, you cannot bring back the life of Suyagna, hence stop crying for him.” In this way, Hiranyakashipu pacified his mother from extreme grief of the death of her son Hiranyaksha and elevated her from the extreme anguish.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 72 – The legend of Prahladha – 2

Shuka Bhramam continued “ Oh! Rajan, living beings on Earth commits countless sins without the knowledge of self or without the knowledge of all the actions that should have a reaction.  I shall describe a legend to simplify your doubts, it has happened during the Rajyasuya Yagna/Mahakrathu conducted by your grandfather,  how  the King of Chethi could attain union with Lord Vasudeva.”  King Pareekshith was already aware of the story of the King Shishupala of Chethi attained Bhramam. Once the Rajasuya Yagna was performed by Yudhishtira in his Kingdom Indraprastha, Lord Krishna was honored in the assembly. Shishupala was present in the assembly insulted Lord Krishna.  Lord Krishna patiently waited for Shishupala to finish his hundreds of mistakes, as it was promised to his mother, when Shishupala crossed one hundred mistakes, Lord Krishna sliced his head with Sudharshana Chakra, a brilliant ray raised from the body of Shishupala and attained union with Krishna.  King Pareekshith asked “ Oh! Bhraman, how did King Shishupala attain union with Krishna, even though he publicly insulted Lord Krishna?   Kindly narrate to me.”

Maharishi Narada to Dharmaputhra “ Oh! Rajan, respect and disrespect, praise and rumors,  hurt by words or actions, grief, all these affect the ignorant people.  They constantly undergo grief, pain, and sorrow by committing various mistakes by words and actions, on the other side, the intellectuals perform virtuous deeds and rites to elevate their soul.  The mind is capable of the constant remembrance of the supreme Lord with any of the feelings, like enmity, affection, fear, devotion, desire, anger, dedication, love, etc.   Oh! Rajan, King Shishupala attained union of the supreme Lord with his enmity towards Lord, this incident proved that an individual can attain union with the Lord easily with the feeling of enmity too.  Kamsa attained union of the Lord with the fear of death, Chaithya/King of Chethi attained union of the Lord with his anger, Vrishni’s attained union of the Lord with their relationship, Pandavas with their extreme love and affection attained union of the Supreme Lord,  Sadhus like us have attained union of the Supreme Lord with our intense devotion and faith.  All the rivers merge with the ocean attains the same worth of it, likewise, all types of devotion to the supreme Lord would bring union with the Bhramam.  I shall narrate a legend in an elaborate manner.  Once Sanaka, Sanandhana, Sanathkumara and Sanathana visited the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu were mistreated by his doorkeepers.  The Sanathkumaras are supreme ascetic attired in loin clothes had the appearance of small children aged five or six.  The Sanakadhis was got angry and cursed the doorkeepers, that they have no right to be in the aboard of Lord Vishnu, therefore they had to be born in the Asurayoni/as demons with all those Rajasik nature.  Thus, these two Vishnuparshadhas, born as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu as the children of Dhithi.  Later, Hiranyakashipu was killed by Lord Vishnu who incarnated as half lion-half man/Narasimha and Hiranyaksha was killed by Lord Vishnu who manifested as wild boar.  The death of Hiranyakashipu was occurred by the extreme devotion of his son Prahladha who had the knowledge of the supreme soul and he realized the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, attained the knowledge of oneness in all.  He was serene and stable, handled all those terrible situations in life with a balanced mind.  He had firm devotion and faith upon the supreme Lord, therefore he could face the worst scenario with courage and devotion,  therefore he did not face brutal death, but his father who was an Emperor tried to kill his own son has to face merciless death in the hands of Lord Narasimha.  Even though Hiranyakashipu had all those fierce weapons, the boon of Lord Bhrama and  huge powers of the army, he had to face brutal death in the hands of the supreme  Lord.”